BEIJING: The capital city of China hosted a smog marathon over the weekend and over 30,000 competed for the smog running champion award.

China Radio International reports that, "The Beijing International Marathon concluded Sunday in heavy smog with Ethiopian Fatuma Sado Dergo finishing first in the 42.195-kilometer run. The 2014 Beijing marathon went on as scheduled for the 23rd straight year despite heavy smog that has hit Beijing since Saturday."

A smog marathon runner is quoted as saying that, "I wore a mask all the way, it's the first time I've ever experienced a marathon run with a lack of oxygen."

According to CRI, "The National Meteorological Center extended a yellow alert on Sunday for severe smog and air pollution in the capital. PM 2.5 reading reached 331, pushing pollution well past healthy levels. Some of the runners wore masks, but their enthusiasm for the marathon prevailed despite the smoggy weather."

Some experts claim that smog runners were inhaling the equivalent of 300 cigarretes in the event.